ominous

USAGE SUMMARY

"ominous" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective meaning foreboding or foreshadowing evil or sinister. Example sentence: The sky was filled with dark clouds, giving an ominous feeling of impending bad weather.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By the end of play on day two, Australia were looking ominous as they reached 119 for one, and an overall lead of 148.

The Guardian - Sport

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 6.15pm ET23:15 Boehner's replies make ominous reading What to make of John Boehner's remarks on House Republicans making a tax and debt deal with the White House and Democrats in Congress?

The Guardian

What is even more ominous is that, in answer to the very first question, Boehner was less than truthful.

The Guardian

The US has agreed to a package of military assistance for countries in the Arab Gulf, as escalating tensions with Iran serve as an ominous backdrop to their joint summit at the Camp David presidential retreat outside Washington.

The Guardian

A look at the boat's charts confirmed the region's historical links to piracy, with such ominous sounding names as Dead Chest, Devil's Bay and Smugglers Cove.

The Guardian - Travel

Indeed, the subsequent "bounce back" in the pound, while ominous, makes the inflation picture even more benign and alleviates the pressure on living standards in the runup to the election.

The Guardian - Business

Ive told Parker: "I thought it would be interesting if it were less precise, and just a little bit more spitty... more analog and more primitive, and I think, in that way, somehow more ominous".

The Guardian - Tech

Soon the kids are packed off on to a ferry and sent towards Jurassic World, which is on an ominous island.

The Guardian - Film

With Manchester City, who ought to have been the most ominous hurdle, flopping out of contention on Sunday, the route to silverware could not look smoother.

The Guardian - Sport

Across Europe, the Greek precedent created perhaps the biggest crisis the EU has ever faced, as markets speculated that it might not have enough cash or willpower to see through the costly rescue bid, and that Greece might ultimately be left to crash out of the eurozone – an ominous precedent.

The Guardian

The advance of criminal law into these recesses of private morality is ominous.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ominous" to create suspense by hinting at potential negative outcomes without explicitly stating them.

Common error

Avoid using "ominous" to describe situations that are merely unpleasant or inconvenient. Reserve it for scenarios carrying a genuine sense of impending threat or doom.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ominous" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that suggests evil or misfortune is coming. Ludwig AI confirms this, showing it used to depict situations, sounds, or signs as foreboding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Travel

10%

Film

10%

Less common in

Sport

7%

Opinion

7%

Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "ominous" is frequently used to describe situations that foreshadow negative outcomes, creating a sense of unease or foreboding. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Travel, and Film contexts, "ominous" serves to alert audiences to potential danger. While generally neutral, its formality can increase depending on context. To enhance writing, reserve "ominous" for scenarios genuinely carrying a sense of impending threat, and consider potent synonyms to avoid overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foreboding

Centers on an intuitive feeling that something bad is going to happen.

sinister

Implies a more evil or malevolent quality.

threatening

Focuses more on direct intent to cause harm or trouble.

menacing

Suggests a presence or atmosphere that inspires fear or unease.

portentous

Emphasizes the significance of the sign or event as a predictor of future events.

ill-omened

Directly refers to something that is a bad omen or sign.

dire

Conveys a sense of extreme seriousness or urgency due to impending danger.

inauspicious

Highlights the unfavorable or unlucky nature of the situation.

baleful

Indicates a destructive or sinister influence.

unpropitious

Formal and less common synonym for unfavorable or unlucky.

FAQs

How can I use "ominous" in a sentence?

You can use "ominous" to describe situations or events that suggest something bad is about to happen. For example, "The dark clouds gathering overhead looked ominous."

What words are similar to "ominous"?

Alternatives to "ominous" include "threatening", "foreboding", and "sinister". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "ominous" and "threatening"?

"Ominous" suggests a general feeling of something bad to come, while "threatening" implies a direct and explicit intention to cause harm.

Is it correct to say something is "very ominous"?

Yes, you can use "very" to intensify the feeling of "ominous", but consider stronger synonyms like "dire" or "portentous" for greater impact.